This Committee, known as the CWAC, has been meeting monthly since November 2015 with a focus on learning the various elements of the new Vermont Clean Water Act including topics like, the Municipal Roads General Permit, the Lake Champlain Basin Total Maximum Daily Load of Phosphorus that can go into the lake and changes to the Tactical Basin Planning process. The CWAC is composed of one CCRPC Board member, representatives appointed by each of its 19 member municipalities, and members appointed by Vermont DEC, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the University of Vermont and Burlington International Airport.

Involvement of these three latter agencies is key as they, along with 9 of the County’s municipalities are subject to a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS-4) permit. In fact the CWAC is an expansion on the longstanding ad hoc advisory group that’s been in place to assist these MS4s in meeting their permit requirements.

This effort, led by CCRPC, includes the Regional Stormwater Education Program, RSEP, and the Chittenden County Stream Team, CCST. In addition to overseeing CCRPC efforts on stormwater issues and Tactical Basin Planning, the CWAC will also help to guide our work with towns, for example, as they explore adoption of River Corridor regulations or develop Flood Resiliency language for their town plans.